Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

Carefully selected J-pop to liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs.

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

Music is essential for staging a successful sports day or school athletics festival.

You might find yourself thinking, “I want to pick songs that will hype up this once-a-year sports celebration!” or “What tracks will boost participants’ motivation and get the audience excited too?”

In this article, we’ve gathered the perfect songs for background music and entrance scenes at sports days and athletics festivals.

From tracks that fire you up to songs that gently encourage, you’ll find plenty of pieces that work in all kinds of moments.

Let moving music set the stage for an unforgettable event.

Carefully selected J-POP to hype up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs (151–160)

A bouquet for meAdo

[Ado] Bouquet for Me Official Audio

A bouquet for meAdo

A gently sung piece about self-affirmation and a forward-looking attitude was released by Ado in March 2025.

While empathizing with the feelings we experience in everyday life, it carries a message that encourages recognizing oneself and finding the courage to take a step toward tomorrow.

With a fresh melody crafted by HoneyWorks layered with Ado’s powerful yet delicate vocals, the result is a heartwarming track.

The song has been chosen as the new commercial theme for Coca-Cola’s canned coffee brand Georgia and is scheduled to be included on the album “Ado’s Best Album.” It’s a perfect tune to start your morning, to encourage someone, or to give yourself a boost of courage—and it will continue to brighten the hearts of many.

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I am the strongest.Ado

[Ado] I’m the Strongest (Uta from ONE PIECE FILM RED)

I am the strongest.Ado

A powerful anthem of will and resolve from the film ONE PIECE FILM RED.

Released by Ado in June 2022, the song is notable for lyrics brimming with self-affirmation that wells up from deep within and heartfelt care for one’s companions.

The energetic, exhilarating rock sound crafted by Motoki Omori of Mrs.

GREEN APPLE and Ado’s distinctive vocals truly shine.

The song expresses the feelings of the film’s character Uta, depicting the process of acknowledging one’s own weaknesses and anxieties while overcoming them to grow stronger.

It’s a perfect track for rallying yourself at a sports day or athletic festival, or when you want to strive together with your teammates.

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HeroYOASOBI

YOASOBI “The Brave” Official Music Video / TV anime “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” opening theme

HeroYOASOBI

A heart-thumping YOASOBI track packed tightly with passionate emotion, released in September 2023 as the opening theme for the TV anime “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.” Its powerful melody and brisk rhythm create an impression filled with hope, conveying the protagonist’s resolve to keep moving forward throughout the story.

It’s the perfect song when you want the courage to share time with precious companions and take a new step.

It will make the moments of running together and competing all the more wonderful.

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Friendswacci

wacci 'Friends' Short Ver.

Friendswacci

This warm, gently drawn song about everyday life with friends is a single released by wacci in March 2020.

It was selected as the opening theme for the TV anime “Uchi Tama?! Have you seen my Tama?” and was written and composed by guitarist Keiji Muranaka.

The lyrics shine a light on the small, ordinary moments of each day and the unchanging routines, carefully weaving bonds with friends and brimming with a kindness that resonates in the heart.

The melody is lively and pleasant, striking a perfect balance with the slightly bittersweet lyrics to create a superb track.

It also works wonderfully as a theme song for school or cultural festivals—an uplifting, heartwarming anthem that colors a page of youth spent with friends.

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Kono Yubi Tomareyosugala

Yosugala – Kono Yubi Tomare

Kono Yubi Tomareyosugala

In this new work by yosugala, a single ray of light and a warm, empathetic singing voice strike straight to the heart.

It’s a song that conveys, with unwavering sincerity, the desire to believe in someone’s inner radiance and to support them.

Crafted as an anthem that stands beside those feeling setbacks or loneliness and gently nudges them forward, it was first performed at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA in February 2025 and released the following March, with lyrics and composition by members of the band AliA.

It will surely resonate deeply with people giving their all on their own and with students running toward their dreams.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to with your friends when you’re worn out from sports day practice, feeling nervous before the main event, or in need of a lift.

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We’ve gotta do what seems impossible.Sambomasutā

I’ve gotta do the thing that seems impossible.

We’ve gotta do what seems impossible.Sambomasutā

A powerful anthem that gives you a push in those youthful moments.

Released by Sambomaster in February 2010, this song carries a warm message that boosts self-affirmation and the spirit to take on challenges.

Centered on themes of “not giving up,” “moving forward,” and “possibility,” it offers a gentle embrace for everyone’s anxieties and doubts while giving the courage to take a new step.

It has been featured in a Nissan commercial and as the image song for the film Cheer☆Dance, resonating with many hearts.

It’s a classic that students training for sports festivals, as well as anyone standing at a crossroads in life, should hear.

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Carefully selected J‑POP to liven up sports days and athletic festivals! Also great as entrance songs (161–170)

Curtain callYuuri

Curtain Call by Yuuri: My Hero Academia Special Music Video / My Hero Academia Season 7 Cour 2 Opening Theme Anime MV

Curtain callYuuri

This is a song by Yuuri featuring an exhilarating, up-tempo rock melody and lyrics filled with hope as two people strive to understand each other.

It powerfully and directly sings of the protagonist’s strong resolve to keep pursuing the path they believe in, while showing empathy toward those they stand opposed to.

A rousing cheer song that gives you a push to chase dreams together with teammates at sports days and athletic festivals, it was released in July 2024 and chosen as the opening theme for Season 7, Cour 2 of the popular anime My Hero Academia.

It’s a track we especially recommend to everyone competing with friends, helping one another, and giving their all toward their goals.

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